A Love Letter to Running’s Design Underground
For the Run-Obsessed and the Aesthetic Freaks
It’s NYC Marathon weekend and the city is fucking buzzing. The kind of energy that makes you want to quit your job, sell your stuff, and run all 26.3 miles across the five boroughs yesterday. I swear, come 2027, I’m gonna be there. Back in early 2024, I ran over 360 miles, chasing that runner’s high like it was the only drug that mattered. Then I got lazy. Picked up cycling, became a CycleBar instructor, and shoved my running shoes back in the corner like they were a dusty ex I didn’t want to deal with. But now? Hitting 30, living in NYC, seeing every kind of person — ripped, crazy-stamina, perfect stride — running Central Park like they own it… there’s no way I’m not getting back into it. It’s like some unspoken rite of passage: hit 30, move here, start running. End of story.
I grew up the chubby, awkward kid who avoided sports like the plague. Didn’t try, didn’t join, didn’t even want to look ridiculous. Now? Fuck that. I care less about what people think and more about proving to myself that I can do the things I always talked myself out of. Running feels like the obvious next move. And before I even think about pounding the streets, I’ve been curating a little love note to the handful of brands I’ve been obsessing over, the ones I want draped on me when I look fly as fuck taking on the NYC streets.
There’s a rhythm to running that goes beyond the miles. It’s in the streets, the sneakers, the way the air hits your face, the people you pass and the ones who pass you. And some brands just get it. They don’t just make gear; they make worlds you want to inhabit.
Take Satisfy Running. Born in Paris, crafted by Brice Partouche, it’s the kind of brand that makes you feel like you’re doing something artistic, even if you’re just jogging down 5th Avenue at 6 a.m. Every piece is quiet, minimal, and beautiful. The fabrics breathe, the cuts feel sculpted, and the details make you look like you belong in an art gallery as much as in a running club. Their LSD runs are like secret societies for people who get it, inclusive, but also, let’s be honest, fiercely desirable. Wearing Satisfy isn’t about speed. It’s about moving with intention, style, and a subtle middle finger to the idea that running has to be boring or uniform.
Price Point
Premium territory: singlets, tees, and shorts typically range from $100–$200, with outerwear stretching toward $300+, reflecting the quality fabrics and design-led ethos.
Then there’s Bandit Running, straight outta Brooklyn and already owning the streets. Started with a sock and a tight-knit group of NYC runners, it’s now a full-blown obsession. Clean lines, Italian mesh fabrics, minimal branding, every stitch screams “we see you, you street-running motherfucker.” Their pop-ups along run routes, water stations for passing runners, and limited drops all make you feel like you’re part of some exclusive, slightly anarchic club. Bandit is for the runners who see the city as their playground, who want performance but with identity, style, and a little bit of chaos baked in.
Price Point
Mid-to-premium: performance socks around $30, tops $70–$120, shorts $100–$150, and outerwear $200+, making it accessible for serious runners who value style and city-ready performance.
Currently Running comes from a totally different world, the world of surf, photography, visual storytelling and somehow it works perfectly in this mix. It’s newer, yes, but their gear feels alive. Functional as fuck, but also narrative-driven. You can practically feel the foggy hills, the early morning light, the story of every run in the fabrics and cuts. It’s for people who care about how running feels, not just the splits on a Garmin. Performance meets lifestyle, creativity meets sweat and honestly, I love that.
Price Point
Mid-premium: singlets, tees, and shorts $70–$150, outerwear $200+, positioning them as accessible yet aspirational for design-conscious runners.
And then there’s District Vision. At first, you think sunglasses. Then you realize it’s a whole philosophy. Founded in London by two fashion-heads, DV treats running like art: body, mind, style all in perfect alignment. Minimalist, luxurious, technical but wearable anywhere, it turns every run into a meditation and every street into a stage. They’ve built a community of people who care about mindfulness, aesthetics, and function all at once. And the collaborations? Fucking genius. The brand doesn’t chase everyone. It’s for the discerning, the design-obsessed, the people who want their running gear to say something without screaming it.
Price Point
Premium: tops and tights $150–$250, outerwear $300+, reflecting the meticulous design, materials, and production standards.
What ties these brands together isn’t just design, quality, or function. It’s culture. Community. Storytelling. They create worlds you want to be part of. They’re not for everyone, and that’s the entire point. They’re for obsessives, aesthetic freaks, and anyone who cares about how running feels as much as how it looks. They blur lines: sport meets lifestyle, performance meets expression, city streets meet studio art.
Yes, they’re pricey. Satisfy and DV are premium as hell. Currently Running and Bandit sit mid-to-high. But here’s the thing: you’re not just buying shorts or a singlet. You’re buying into vision, craft, and a community. Every mile feels intentional. Every outfit feels alive.
Running, when you think about it like this, can be beautiful, messy, deliberate, and deeply personal. It’s not about the miles, it’s the streets you carve, the people you pass, the communities you inhabit, and the clothes that move with you through it all. And if you care even a little about aesthetics, culture, or the subtle poetry of a morning run, these are the brands worth obsessing over. Worth following. Worth splurging on, even if you have to eat ramen for a little while after.
Some Honorable Mentions:
